Michael Oliver (actor)
Template:Infobox person Michael Joshua Oliverius (born October 10, 1981)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is an American former child actor better known by his stage name Michael Oliver.
Oliver is best known for his role as "Junior" in the movie Problem Child and its sequel Problem Child 2. He also played Sam Dalton In Dillinger and Capone in 1995.
Early life and career
Born in Los Angeles, California,<ref>Template:Cite web]</ref> Oliver's career started at the age of 2. His first job was as a model in a Sears catalog. At age 6, he appeared in a Chevron commercial where he wore glasses and had his voice dubbed over. After seeing Oliver in the Chevron commercial, a casting agent for the film Problem Child tracked Oliver down and cast him in the role days later.
When Problem Child was released in 1990, Oliver's appearance reminded people of a young Ron Howard as "Opie Taylor" in the Andy Griffith Show.<ref name="hicks">Template:Cite web</ref> It became a "surprise hit,"<ref name="hicks2">Template:Cite web</ref> spawned two sequels and an animated series. Problem Child 2 followed in 1991; however, the script was considered not in par with the original and repeatedly resorted to adult language, thus limiting the film's overall appeal.<ref name="hicks2" /> Michael Oliver retired from acting when he was 15. In 2015, it was reported that Oliver was happy with his private life away from the celebrity scene and had said he was enjoying "a nice, quiet existence" although he expressed he was grateful for the time he had spent in the spotlight as a child star.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On a 2011 episode of the radio show Loveline, Oliver called in while former co-star Gilbert Gottfried was guest hosting.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2012, Oliver, along with the cast and crew of Problem Child and Problem Child 2, reunited for a photoshoot supporting the John Ritter Foundation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2022, after being married since 2016 and separated since 2019, Oliver filed for a divorce from his ex-wife Magnolia Ponce citing irreconcilable differences.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Lawsuit with Universal Pictures
After completion of Problem Child 2, Universal Pictures sued Oliver and Oliver's manager-mother Dianne Ponce for extorting his acting contract. Universal Pictures claimed the day before filming, Ponce threatened to remove her son from production unless his original payment of $80,000 be raised to $500,000. Universal agreed, but would be out of pocket $4 million if Oliver backed out.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
A Superior Court jury ruled that the contract was unenforceable, with Universal Pictures having entered into it under duress, and that Ponce and Oliver were obliged to return the difference between the $250,000 Universal had thus far paid and the $80,000 originally negotiated.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
| 1990 | Problem Child | Junior Healy | |
| 1991 | Problem Child 2 | Junior Healy | |
| 1994 | Forrest Gump | Red Headed Teen | (uncredited) |
| 1995 | Dillinger and Capone | Sam Dalton | |
| 1996 | Eraser | Russian Teen | (uncredited) |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | Amen | Max | 1 episode |
| 1991 | Drexell's Class | Mitchell | 1 episode |
| 1991 | The Munsters Today | Young Andy | 1 episode |
| 1995 | Platypus Man | Rusty | 1 episode |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Film or series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–1991 | Young Artist Award | rowspan=2 Template:Nom | Best Young Actor Guest Starring or Recurring Role in a TV Series | Drexell's Class |
| 1992–1993 | Best Youth Actor Leading Role in a Motion Picture Comedy | Problem Child 2 |